Obituaries

Dana “Big Daddy” Derhammer died at his home in Portage on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.  Dana was born November 28, 1936 in Kalamazoo, the son of Dana H. and Florence (Rose) Derhammer. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central  High School and received a degree in music at  Youngstown University. Dana married Joyce Burt on March 8, 1986 in Kalamazoo.  He enjoyed...

Rich passed away at his home in Otsego, Michigan Tuesday, August 11, 2020.  He was born May 27, 1965 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, son of Lenn and Judy (Wilson) Sutterfield.  He graduated from Wyoming Park High School and earned his B.A. of Finance at Michigan State University.  Rich was a Branch Examiner for LPL Financial Services.  He was a loving...

Fred passed away at his home in Kalamazoo on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.  He was born August 17, 1945, the son of Fredrick W. and Viola (Watson) Seeger in Kennett, Missouri.  He moved to Michigan with his family when he was a young child and met the girl who would claim his heart for the rest of his life.  He...

Hazel passed away Monday, August 10, 2020 at Wings Home Hospice in Allegan. She was born March 14, 1933 in Town Creek, Alabama, the daughter of Clint and Jessie Mae Terry.  On December 22, 1948 she married Ralph Bumgart. Hazel enjoyed gardening, canning, and caring for her home and family. She was an excellent cook and faithful Christian.Surviving are her...

James passed away Saturday, August 8, 2020 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo.He was born November 22, 1949 in Three Rivers, the son of Malcolm and Clarabele (Belden) Anderson. James served his country in the U.S. Marine Corp. during Vietnam. He worked at Plainwell Paper until it closed and then at Perrigo until his retirement. James was a member of...

Jim passed away Friday, August 7, 2020 at his home in Plainwell.He was born March 23, 1930 in Detroit, the son of James and Lenore (Jepson) Kelly. Jim proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force as an aerial photographer. Jim was an avid softball player and golfer. He was a member of the American Legion. On October 18,...

Mary went to be with her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at home, surrounded by family following a brief illness.She was born March 30, 1958 in St. Joseph, MI to the Rev. Emerson and Eleanor Minor. The youngest of five children, Mary graduated from Plainwell High School in 1976. While in high school she played a supporting role...

Stacy passed away July 21, 2020 in Florida.She was born July 7, 1973 in Bowling Green, Ohio, the daughter of Robert Knitz and Eva Sweat. Stacy loved walking on the beach, scrapbooking, fishing and spending time with her grandchildren.Surviving are her children, Shayne Knitz, Samantha Holliman and Cassandra Holliman; 11 grandchildren; her mother and brother, Joshua Knitz.She was preceded in...

Alise passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, July 30, 2020.She was born June 24, 2007 in Kalamazoo the daughter of John and Jennifer (Mena) Perry. Alise attended Plainwell Public Schools through 6thgrade and had transferred to Otsego Middle School this past year.She had a kind, curious and adventurous spirit and enjoyed tinkering and taking things apart. Alise loved all animals, especially her...

Patricia L. Clark of Otsego, MI passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at Life Care Center in Plainwell.She was born May 6, 1935 in Bowling Green, Ohio the daughter of Carl and Marie (McNally) Miller. Pat enjoyed crocheting, needlework crafts, reading, online puzzle games and watching game shows. On June 2, 1986 she married John Clark who passed away in...

Virgie passed away Thursday, July 23, 2020 at Allegan County Medical Care Community.She was born November 29, 1919 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Edward and Lora (Kane) Smith. For many years she was a secretary for the Upjohn Company.When Virgie was 15 years old she met the love of her life, Thomas Tipton. They were married four years later and...

Helen passed away Thursday, July 23, 2020 at Kalkaska Long Term Care.She was born September 15, 1919, in Grand Junction, the daughter of Homer and Pearl (King) Evans. While her husband was stationed in Arizona she worked on the U.S Army base and then at Western Michigan University for 20 years retiring in 1983 as the administrative assistant of the...

Mike passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday, July 21, 2020.He was born October 12, 1960, the son of Lewis and Barbara (Langeance) Cooley. Mike was a 1978 Otsego High School graduate and lifelong resident of the area. Mike was a selfless parent and devoted friend. He passionately lived for spending time with his children and grandchildren.Mike belonged to the Wormburner, enjoyed days...

Ronald L. “Skip” Stratton Jr. passed away Sunday, July 19, 2020 in Byron Center.He was born April 5, 1966 in Kalamazoo the son of Ronald and Diane (Peebles) Stratton. Skip was a 1984 Plainwell High School graduate. He worked at James River Corporation for several years before joining the U.S. Navy and proudly served during Desert Storm. He went on...

Marilyn passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at Briarwood Assisted Living in Allegan.She was born February 21, 1932 in Park Ridge, Illinois, the daughter of Robert and Lillian (Seeger) Diesness. Marilyn was a 1950 graduate of White Pigeon High School and moved to Plainwell in 1952.In her free time Marilyn loved to go shopping and enjoyed attending sporting events for...

Beverly passed away Saturday, July 11, 2020 at Vicinia Gardens in Otsego.She was born November 16, 1935 in Newark, New York, the daughter of John and Leona (Nutten) Dubler. Beverly enjoyed reading, camping, traveling and square dancing. In 1964 in Honolulu, Hawaii, she married Richard Jensen who passed away in May.Surviving are her children, Jacqueline (Steve) Minor and Stacey Jensen;...

Laura passed away Friday, July 10, 2020 at Glenn Arbor Hospice in Battle Creek.She was born May 15, 1939 in Allegan, the daughter of Raymond and Ethel (Warner) Leonard. Laura enjoyed playing bingo, trips to the casino, shooting pool, bowling, sewing, crocheting, playing computer games and fishing. In October 1955 she married Robert Dalrymple who passed away in 2009.Surviving are...

Dennis passed away Sunday, July 5, 2020 in North Carolina.He was born April 2, 1963 in Kalamazoo the son of Raymond and Carolyn (Bryant) Snyder. Dennis was a 1982 Martin High School graduate. In 1983 in Martin he married Jeanne Solomon they were together for 7 years. Together they had two children, Ashley and Keith.Dennis was very devoted to his...

Howard Wayne Norton passed away on July 3rd, 2020.Howard was born on August, 4th 1928, at his family’s home at 113 Morrel Street, Otsego, MI, to Andrew and Imo (Newton) Norton.  Howard was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Raymond (Bernice) Norton, Merle (Virginia) Norton, Vera (Leonard) Earl, Lois (Ross) Jenkins, Paul Norton, Ruth Norton, and an infant...

Frances passed away Saturday, July 4, 2020 in Grand Rapids.She was born December 8, 1943 in Arkansas, the daughter of Charles and Edna (Bolen) McCormick. As a young woman Frances had been a bartender and waitress at the Olympia Restaurant and the Elks Lodge and for 20 years had been a nanny.Frances loved music and singing. She was in several...